SLSHOP Experience: Wales Tour 2021

 ‘’Live, travel, adventure, bless and don’t be sorry’’ – Jack Kerouac

Day Zero. Drayton Manor Farm, Stratford-upon-Avon.

The morning launched with a blanket of silky blue sky populated with a few lonesome frothy clouds, ambling in the distance. Without an ounce of wind, a perfect concoction of British autumnal weather was in the making, paving the way for a stint of driving cross-country, over the border and into the vast greenery of Wales. The SLSHOP Wales Tour was a go.

Spanning over 500 miles, the Wales Tour had been carefully curated by SLSHOP’s MD and Founder, Sam Bailey, to offer owners an uninhibited adventure through Wales. A chance for owners to escape the constraints of the modern world, enjoy the company of their passenger, the sound of their car, the geography, and the fresh smells of rural Wales. At the heart of this trip, was SLSHOP’s modus operandi – to #drivemore, #domore and #seemore. SLSHOP’s task was to inspire owners to feel confident to use their car and relaxed about putting miles on the odometer.

Day Zero truly began with the arrival of 11 SL variants, ranging from the 1960s W113 Pagoda to the more recent R231 SL55, dispelling the myth that SLSHOP only supports classic SL owners. Guests were welcomed with their tour packs, including a comprehensive book detailing the route, eateries, and sights worth digesting. Photographer, Simon Medlicott, was on hand to capture the celebrity status of owners arriving in their especially unique cars.

After a slight interruption from the rain, each guest’s car was allocated a slot on a ramp in SLSHOP’s workshops for lights, levels, and an undercarriage check-over, as well as the fixing of a rally plaque. Each owner received a walk around of our facility, including expert insight into their car by our skilled Heritage, Specialist and Modern Classic technicians. Workshops Operations Manager, Chris Badgery, reported on the excellent condition of each car, some of which were purchased from SLSHOP over 10 years ago.

Following a top-up of oil and caffeine, each SL and owner embarked on a rapid pursuit of petrol in the local town, before heading on to The Arden Hotel for dinner, drinks, and a familiarisation ceremony with other enthusiasts. The evening incorporated a stupendous three-course dinner, pleasantly interrupted by laughter and learning, as Mr Bailey delivered an inspirational speech on the joys of classic car ownership:

‘’We’ve all had our qualms over the past 18-months, some more than others. I want you to take this opportunity to connect, put your phone down and forget about the pressures of day-to-day life in the 21st Century. This is a chance for us all to enjoy the beauty of the United Kingdom; at the wheel of some of the most elegant automobiles.’’

Many drinks were had, jokes exchanged, and friendships ignited. Day Zero calmly phased itself out to allow driver and passenger the chance to recharge in preparation for the tour ahead.

Day One: Stratford-upon-Avon to Plas Nanteos Mansion, Aberystwyth, 135 Miles

Day One kicked off over breakfast, where owners consolidated newly forged friendships from the night before. The community then congregated in the car park for a briefing of the day’s drive through Wales, with the focal points being The Elan Valley’s winding roads, Lord of the Rings-esque mountain ranges and Devil’s Bridge.

Despite the early start, owners were quickly fired up on all cylinders, promptly departing in convoy, noses seeking out the winding roads of Wales like missiles. Passengers were charged with navigation, following SLSHOP’s route planner line-by-line, while others utilised technology to assist with the flow of their journey. To meet the pressures of a national fuel shortage, a WhatsApp group enabled owners to communicate the location of available fuel along the route; with SLSHOP staff reporting back from further ahead.

As each SL climbed past Alcester and towards Leominster, the weather took a quintessentially Welsh turn, lavishing owners in the finest H2O available from above. Despite this, owners ploughed on towards Rhayader, arriving just in time for lunch to share a few stories from the drive so far. From here, the convoy would fan out along National Cycle Route 81 (B4574), traversing the modulating roads towards the Caban Coch Reservoir and Dam, Garreg Ddu and Pen Y Garreg Dam, aptly described as a scene from Lara Croft by Super Lady, Claire Thomas. From here, each SL would rollercoaster to Devil’s Bridge and then on to Plas Nanteos Mansion.

Each SL tackled the roads effortlessly, with no rain-related drama reported by each owner. Photographer Simon Medlicott and filmographer, Jake Bailey, were on the receiving end of most of the water as they hopped around trying to capture the convoy of smiles.

Plas Nanteos Mansion. A 17th Century grade 1 listed Georgian mansion 10 miles from Devil’s Bridge, is located in a secluded valley flanked by farming fields just outside Aberystwyth. As a site for classic car owners to park without stress, this location is perfect; particularly as the hotel allowed the Wales Tour squad to create a symmetrical parking scene outside the front of the hotel. Grandeur meets grand.

The evening setting commanded a particularly sophisticated air, encouraging guests to dress up for an evening ceremony of dinner, drinks and a ‘fact or fib’ session hosted by Mr Bailey. Stories abound, the party was tasked with truly evaluating one another’s life events. Peter led all to believe that lockdown had moved him from a life of car tinkering and allegiance to the RAF, to an obsession with The Great British Bake Off and baking. Meanwhile, Beverley, convinced us she had once worked alongside Bill Gates. The night concluded with a heart-warming acknowledgement that Peter and Kate would be celebrating their 50th Wedding anniversary whilst on the trip – a milestone reached as the R107 SL turns 50.

Day Two: Plas Nanteos Mansion – Chateau Rhianfa, Anglesey, 141 Miles

A Le Mans Start.

The second day launched with the welcomed arrival of Mr Blue Sky, bereft of the all too familiar daunting rain clouds. The schedule was set with a morning briefing from Captain Bailey, issuing directives to all persons not wanting to miss the best roads of the trip. Day Two was a true chance to ‘purge one’s modern soul.’ This section of the route was truly emancipatory – separated from any modern activity with the only exception being the High-Tec machinery used by farmers along the winding route.

To the sound of Russell Owens’ Sport Leicht playlist, owners launched themselves into their cars – the pace set by those with the least luggage – disembarking at 09:00 for petrol before retracing the route back past Devil’s Bridge to Llangurig and on to Llanidloes. Following the B4518 past the stunning Clywedog Reservoir, which marks a northern turn for the SL convoy, the group sliced its way through the rolling hills to Lake Vyrnwy for lunch and a reflection on the day’s driving. A break from driving allowed owners to absorb the surroundings and take in the facts and stories offered by our Wales Tour book.

From here the adventure continued further into remote mid-Wales, with each SL being swallowed up by what could be Tolkien’s Middle Earth, entering the gateway into North Wales via Bala. From here the convoy bunched as they passed Capel Celyn and took the B4391 to Ffestiniog – a truly epic stretch of road not suitable for the faint-hearted. Each car performed stupendously, tackling the hills and sections of gravel without fault and concern from any of the 13 couples. Continuing on around the edge of Snowdonia National Park, the convoy continued to Beddgelert – picturesque village home to the grave of Gelert the dog, used by the Goat Hotel as a marketing ploy to attract visitors.

Onwards and upwards. The route flows from here up to the Menai Strait and onto Chateau Rhianfa. Located on the banks of the Menai Strait, this grade 2 listed Chateau was inspired by Lady Sarah’s sketches and constructed by her husband, John-Hay Williams as a tribute to her and her daughters in the 19th Century. It is here that guests would enjoy two nights of fine food and accommodation.

Day Three: A Leisurely Exploration of Anglesey

Assigned as a leisurely, unscripted date of enjoyment, Day Three offered owners the chance to relax in the local area or return to their car and stretch their pistons into Anglesey and beyond.

With so much to see, some cars departed for a 100-mile circuit of Anglesey, a straight stint to Holyhead, and others opted for a trip to Llandudno. Owners were encouraged to capture pictures to be shared on SLSHOP’s social media accounts, with a prize for the best photograph. The Transport Museum attracted those with petrolhead DNA, while Snowdonia’s train was boarded by others looking to hit the peaks without the time constraints of climbing on foot.

Photos submitted by the Wales Tour Tribe

The final night involved a short awards ceremony, with a special package handed over to several owners for selected reasons along the trip. Kate D was awarded the ‘Best Photo’ title for constantly good photos capturing each day of the trip, while Beverley received the most inspiring thought of the trip. Alec and his wife, Elise, were knighted most inspirational couple, as they had flown down from Scotland, and collected their car from SLSHOP for the trip.

The final evening ended with the exchange of contact details and plans made for future trips as a community. A community built around a shared admiration for unique experiences; for escaping the confines of modernity and embracing the opportunity to make new friends amongst the UK’s beautiful scenery.

Day Four: Homeward Bound, 165 Miles (Stratford-upon-Avon)

With owners heading in all directions and only a select few making their way back to Stratford-upon-Avon, the convoy officially split for the first time in four days, each embarking on their adventures home. Those heading south-east enjoyed the route to Betws-y-Coed via the Llanberis Mountain Pass, which swoops through the valley and on to Cape Curig. From here, the Midlands crew would sit back and put some miles under their belt as they crunched the kilometres, arriving back at SLSHOP for an early tea and a quick clean of the cars.

The point at which SLSHOP knew a new community had been forged, was the sharing of photos from each couple as they made it home. For SLSHOP, knowing that each owner enjoyed their time and found the confidence to use their car was a special moment.

Experience with SLSHOP

In 2022, SLSHOP will be running three more trips across the UK, including Scotland, the Cotswolds and Wales. Alongside this, the company will be opening their doors to classic Mercedes-Benz owners on three occasions throughout the year. If you’re interested in finding out more about our trips and tours, please contact [email protected] or click this link.